Two Points (and a half...?)

Geez Michael, that sounds like a great book. One more for the library :)

Two points:

1: Why do our churches suck?
We all love Jesus. We all want to be more like Jesus. We all want people to know Jesus.

We can't agree on who Jesus is. Every generation hears the good news of the Gospel differently than the one before: that's part of why we talk about the Bible as being the Living Word. You know, when I read "do unto others as you would have done unto you" it doesn't impact me the same way as the concept impacted my father - who had suffered some physical and a fair amount of emotional abuse as a child. The so-called "Golden Rule" meant that my dad never physically punished me (heh, my MOM did, though...every time I deserved it...). It doesn't impact me the same way it does, say, a soldier who may very well have to live under a kill or be killed ethos...

Who is this Jesus? Is He the guy who was so enraged at the abuses of God's holiness that he threw over tables and drove out the moneychangers? Is He the guy who said, "Let the children come to me?" Or the guy who said, "Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees!!" Or the guy who said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." Who is this Jesus? Which one do you want to follow?

Me? I want to follow the real Jesus. But I have biases and blind spots, too... The Church will never be unified in its concept of Jesus. Talk to Christians in South America, and many will tell you that Jesus is the Great Liberator. What does that mean to me? Jesus liberated me from my sin. But in South America, Jesus is as much a Political figure as a religious (or was, this is from 15 year old data...)

Churches suck because they don't see Jesus the way I see Jesus. Is High Mass really any less devout and faithful than the Wednesday night prayer meeting?

2: I love my church...

I know what you're saying. But I wish you had said, I love my Church. You know, all of 'em. Even the ones that suck...

Why isn't more evangelism happening? Because too many people either don't know who the Jesus they worship is, or they're too embarassed by who they think He is to tell people about Him...

And maybe I'm full of it, too...

My friend Mary recently went to the interfaith group's annual "spirituality fair" where each of the religious organizations show up and try and sell their wares to unsuspecting freshman. Mary places it in a much higher regard than I do. She was there representing, of course, the Catholic church and the Catholic Student Association. Her booth was in between those of the Baptists and Unitarian Universalists. Talk about a fun position. I read the book on the right (I know it's sad that I read so few books I can't blog without mentioning each one 4 times.) It comes from a liberal perspective, but a lot of liberal churches have missed the point. Mary picked up a brochure for the Unitarians that never mentioned Jesus (one reference to God.) It did, however mention that it was a very gay friendly institution. My favorite chapter in Adventures in Missing the Point is about homosexuality. It made me re-think how I treated thos who were different than me. I think that the church needs to reach out in love to the fringe ... but we can't lose sight of Jesus.


What is "being the church" all about.
That's right. This = = = >
Not, not being large, ogerous, veggie-fanatical, and creepy grinned. Spending time with Jesus - knowing Him personally is so key to the church. Because, when we know Him personally we will introduce Him to others. Propositionally it seems to simple. Love God, Love Others.

So why do our churches suck? Why does the right continue to choose the law over grace? Why does the left spend so much energy on neutering the Holy Spirit when there is so much that they have correct about God and salvation. Why does so little evangelism occur? Why does it have to be pre-planned and rehearsed when it does happen? I have so many questions for the church, and yet, so much love for it at the same time. I love my church. I don't agree with a lot of the people there, but I love all of them. I hope that they can all spend some time with Jesus, and learn that evangelism is simply introducing a dying world to the savior.

God is God

I was at a worship service once - I'm thinking it might have been at Annual Conference...not sure... Anyway, the reading that day was from the Psalms and went something like this: from Psalm 111

God has caused God's wonders to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5 God provides food for those who fear God;
God remembers God's covenant forever.
6 God has shown God's people the power of God's works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of God's hands are faithful and just;
all God's precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are steadfast for ever and ever,
done in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 God provided redemption for God's people;
God ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is hGod's name.

Grammatically and politically correct. REALLY awkward... And I have to believe that it was uncomfortable for everyone there - at least everyone I talked to thought it was taking a right idea to the point of caricature... Yet this person was sincerely trying to edit the gender specific references to God...

One of the real benefits of attending a seminary that was theologically different from where I am was that I became much more sensitive to the issues that bring up "alternate" theologies (e.g. - feminist, womanist, liberation, process...etc...) and I have found ways in my traditional-conservative-orthodox theology to deal with the issues...

God is God. WAY beyond our definitions. But I like that I can think about God as being like a loving Father. I had a pretty good dad, even though he wasn't a church goer. If ONE IMAGE of God (not the only image of God) is like a dad (Abba -- Daddy), only WAY better, then I draw comfort from that. I understand that others don't -- and I won't force them to accept it - as long as they don't force me to reject it...

I went to a church once in Cumming, GA (www.cummingfirst.com) (no lie) where the pastor never used a male pronoun for God. "Our parent who aren't in heaven ... etc." It was a little disturbing. I think that it would be such a huge stumbling block for so many people that it's not worth it to be politically correct. I also think that it could be a big stumbling block to refer to God in exclusively male terms - especially in a liberal context. I'm not offended by God being a male - however, I'm not a liberal woman. Maybe I'll ask Mary what she thinks - or drop a line to Hillary Clinton (I'm going to put a picture of her on my wall.)

Gender Bias

So - the Holy Spirit is Androgenous (sp?), just like David Bowie? Not sure where to go with that. I guess it's appropriate that Bowie really is a "he" and our understanding of the Holy Spirit really began as male - from very male dominated cultures. It really is only in the last century that we've gotten a good handle on God being genderless and really only in the last couple of decades really tried to put that into practice. I still will refer to God as Father (since Jesus did) but not exclusively... Being of the age I am and the background from which I come, I'm still uncomfortable with Mother being a title for God...just isn't Biblical (and for obvious reasons - again, male dominated cultures - if Jesus did call God Mother, we don't have a record of it) - though as a concept, I embrace it. God talks about birthing the chosen people...Jesus like a mother hen...so, it's not a huge stretch... Just when the Lord's prayer starts, "Our Parent" or "Our Father/Mother" (and how do you even SAY the slash?) I get a little...oogly...

So, I'm not politically correct. Wow, there's a bulletin...

But, to get back to what I hear in Michael's random thought for the day - the Holy Spirit transcends our gender bias. Gentle yet Unbreakable. Loving yet Holy. Comforting yet Unchangable.

I don't know if I paired those up well...but it's the dichotomy that we live in.

Bill

I think we might have figured this thing out.

I guess I'll start us off with a good ol' random thought. While I was unpacking my boxes of stuff I started writing down some random thoughts on the flap of a box. I'm reading over this completely random box right now. My favorite is, "The Holy Spirit is androdgenous ... just like David Bowie." This stuff just pops into my head and there's nothing I can do to get it out. Here's to new blogs and random thoughts.

This is the test - it will probably be deleted

So, I had to post something so I could see what kind of mess I made with this whole thing...heh - debate THAT!!

Bill :)